Page 74 of Emylia

The man in question stepped inside.

Time slowed as my gaze caught Maalikai’s. His black shirt clung to him, now adorned with a symphony of daggers strapped across his frame–each one glinting in unapologetic glory, like they weren’t just weapons, but my own personal challenge. Daring me to steal one.

“Him?” Sebastian seethed, commanding my attention.

It was my mother who answered him,resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “It’s fine, Sebastian.” The look exchanged between them made my stomach twist uncomfortably.

What in Nexus was going on here?

I didn’t know what, but I could feel it in my very core, and I was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Uncle Thrainn nodded once in my mother’s direction; his eyes darkened, wrinkles etching around the creases of his eyes.

“Ari, I need your skills as a healer; can you come with me?” he addressed my mother in an authoritative cadence. She nodded, and without another word he left, my mother following behind.

As soon as the door closed behind them, I whipped on Sebastian. “What the fuck was that?” I thundered.

“I was protecting you,” Sebastian shot back.

“I don’t need your Gods-damned protection.” Being shut down by Sebastianandmy uncle had wounded me more deeply than I could express.

“Em…” Sebastian gave me a piercing look, but I ignored him.

“I’m going to bed.” I had no intention of sleeping, but he didn’t need to know that.

The look he gave me sliced me to the core. “You don’t want to stay up and wait for information?”

I glared at him and he didn’t argue further. “It’s not like there’s much else to do being imprisoned in here,” I shot over my shoulder as I headed to one of the spare rooms down the hall that had officially become my own.

“The knife, Emylia.”

Crap.

I’d hoped he’d forgotten that he’d given it to me, but I guess I wasn’t that lucky. Without tearing my eyes from his, I slammed it hard against the wooden tabletop, sticking my finger up at him as I backed away.

With a huff, I slammed my door behind me, hoping it would deter Sebastian from coming and checking on me anytime soon. Truthfully, I needed him to stay away. It was the only way I would get a chance to sneak out and find out what was really going on.

Shrugging out of the extravagant dress that still encumbered my body, I riffled through the bag my mom had stored for me at the house. A metallic gleam of a buckle clasp, caught my eye. A shirt I shouldn’t even own stared up at me—a corset sewn full of blade sheaths—daring me to wear it. What had inspired me to put that in the bag this morning?

A burning desire to wear it consumed me. I had to remind myself that it was forbidden; I would be banished and branded if anyone were to find out. The other option was an emerald dress. There was no way I could wear it, not when I needed to be stealth on speed. The dress would only slow me down and get me caught.

Fuck it.

Two minutes later, I sheathed the four knives I’d packed, into the tight, black corset along with the two knives at my hips. Luckily, Sebastian had forgotten about them.

I wove my hair into a tight braid, fingers moving fast. The last thing I needed was for it to unravel mid-fight–and get me killed.

As silently as possible I cracked open the window. The sound ricocheted through the room loudly enough that I knew someone had to have heard it down the hall. Before I could be caught, I dived onto my bed, chucking the sheets over me.

I listened, counting to fifty, as I waited for Sebastian to bust into the room.

He didn’t come.

Lifting the window until it was open just enough for me to fit out, I maneuvered myself outside, landing silently on my feet.

It was pitch-black outside, and I blended into the shadows. Darting between the houses, I used the darkness to hide my silhouette. Quietly, I made my way through town until I came to the healer’s quarters where I assumed they had taken the injured man and my mother. She would have all the supplies she needed there.

It was a large wooden building near the center of town. All four corner posts had individually been carved with depictions of the Goddess of healing, Callisto.

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